War Photographer

i watched War Photographer yesterday for the second time in as many days.

it was quieter than i expected. i was prepared for the chaos that i'm accustomed to of moving images coming out of Iraq, but Frei's portrait was more subtle. like Nachtwey, or because of him, the film took a track of painful, yet beautiful, introspection as it carried the weight of unfathomable sights. Nachtwey's vision and commitment are astounding, and his contribution to our visual understanding of war, and suffering, is invaluable. these things can not be disputed, but it was more difficult for me decipher how i felt about the film as a whole.

i was left empty after viewing it the first time- exhausted in a way. i watched it again yesterday to find some clarity, but not sure that i did. i felt conflicted in viewing the scene where Nachtwey is working with his printer to find the precise amount of burning in the sky of a particular image. i kept looking at the eyes of the child in that photo, and the detail of the clouds seemed to be of little consequence. i couldn't help but think about the difference between the gallery and the printed page in relation to his work. the photos of the dead in Chechnya, for instance, are invaluable when printed in Time or Stern, but are the same images exploitive once framed and hung on a wall? i realize it's more complicated than that, but it was (is) difficult for me to sift through.

i'd be interested to hear other's views on the film.

>trailer<